David and Vicki Slack are saddened to hear of Jeff’s passing. He was a great neighbor years back. He watched out for our kids. Thanks for the friendship. Rest easy Jeff. Prayers for all your family and friends.

We were deeply saddened to hear of Jeff's passing. I know he had some hard times and demons to fight. Although I only knew him a short time, I considered him a friend. I pray the peace and comfort only God can give be upon all his family.

This condolence is to celebrate not mourn the life of William Jeff Carroll aka Strapper. This great man lived life his own way on his own terms an did what he sought fit and wanted to do. Call him stubborn or hard-headed I just called him Strapper. Jeff got his nickname in the 4th grade at Cedar Creek. As I hear, Dr. Pete gave Jeff a jock strap to wear during P.E. Doing what his dad suggested he wore it, Jeff’s classmates had never seen anything like this undergarment and Jeff at that point was dubbed Strapper. An he lived up to his monicker!Strap lived his life like a Lynyrd Skynyrd song. The song that is most appropriate for the man would be FreeBird, but Tuesday’s Gone keeps coming to my mind. Since Jeff laid down on a Tuesday night and past away before sunrise Wednesday.Jeff loved music. Most can remember the rock tunes like Heart, REO, or Rush blaring out of the Trans-Am. Jeff was a vain guy an a clean and tidy freak. One of the best looking men every to be raised in Lincoln parish. Jeff Carroll was a handsome man who was always the coolest guy in the room or parish. He owned the persona and lived it to a tee.If you think of a line in Amazing Grace, “I once was lost, but now am foundT'was blind but now I see.” Jeff was a lost soul. Nobody can deny that. But by the glory of God and the fact that I know Strapper had god in his heart he has now found a better way in the land of Unclouded Day. An is no longer blinded by a haze and demon that only Jeff knew.Believe it or not Jeff was a cat person. He loved cats. In fact, if animals are in heaven with us then Strapper has two really good feline friends upstairs with him. His first cat was Katie, she loved Burger King Fries. An his family cat Sam. Strapper often talked about Sam and how Sam was his buddy.Jeff adored his family. Austin, Morgan, Vernaughn, Clint, Dr. P., Suzanne & Leslie. Leslie - Jeff would call me at least once a month and request me to play Alan Jackson’s “Remember When.” Id always ask him if he was around a radio and he would say “no brother, but I hope she is.” The “she” was you Leslie. He didn’t hate you. Jeff hated himself for what he did to you and the kids. Dr. Pete - your son had a framed picture of you and him he always had with him. It was of you and him at a golf tournament. Both of y’all posing together busting at the seems with joy. I was looking at the picture years ago an Jeff told me that picture had captured one of the happiest times he ever had with his father. Dr. P your son was so proud of you. He was so impressed by all the lives you have brought into this world and still working today. Suzanne - he loved to push your buttons and you loved to give it right back to him. He had met his match when he met you. Morgan - your dad told me all the time how much he loved you. He often called Dr. P and Suzanne and asked them to tell you he loved you. He used to brag on how pretty you turned out to be. Austin - you were his everything. He was so dang proud of you. You were his hero! Y’all talked a couple weeks ago for an hour. When you hung up with your dad he called everyone he knew and told them he had a hour talk on the phone with his Austin. That was the best Christmas present you could of gave him. Vernaughn and Clint - y’all helped keep my friend alive and never stopped loving and doing for him even though it would of been easier to walk away. Vernaughn - since taking Jeff Sonic for lunch everyday in the second grade to taking care of his final wishes you deserve a huge hug from all of us. Strapper might of giving you hell, but your love always shined through. You never gave up on him. You loved him through everything.Strapper would often refer to himself as a warrior or a soldier and that he was always going into battle. Well... in a sense he was. He walked thru the valley of the shadow of death more than any I know and made it thru the other side.Nobody should feel like they didn’t do enough or could of done something more. You couldn’t of. Jeff lived his life his own way. He chose this past. If you lent him any helping hand at any point in his life then you did something to help Strapper. Joey Colvin doing welfare checks or taking him to church, Chuck Barham being there for him when he was living in Shreveport, James Ramseur always trying to get him well and praying with him and for him, Melanie Harris for basically keeping Strapper alive with all you have done for him more in a motherly way than a friend. Strapper is forever in debt to all his friends.Here is something to take with you. Strapper died peacefully. He got wish. Jeff knew it was his time to go and the lord did too. So he took Jeff home. Myself, Melanie Harris, and Joey Colvin spent part of Jeff’s last days and hours with him. Tuesday night at 10:30 Melanie called Strap and had a 30 min conversation with him and it ended with Strapper saying two things. One “Mel I hate this damn phone. I hate when it rings and when we hang up I’m shutting the dang thing down. And I’m not drinking, I don’t have a bottle, an I don’t want a drink right now.” I know and want everyone to know Jeff died sober. He left use with a clear and peaceful state of mind. Burdens yes! But those are all laid down on the lord now.Strappers favorite song was Led Zeppelin “Strairway To Heaven.”

Robert and I are sorry to hear about Jeff. He was a long time friend. Robert has wonderful memories during their childhood. I can see his smile. We will always remember him. Prayers of comfort and peace for Vernaughn, his children, friends and family. Robert and Donna Frasier

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.